Pneumatic dump valve

ABSTRACT

A quick dump valve for use in conjunction with an air operated trap, the valve having a sear for holding it in closed position and being closable after air has been released from the reservoir closed by the valve.

United States Patent S T N m MA .IP CS mm A m T ks D E h N U M U n n o C mm m 0 N nh Mm AI '1 m e v .m U U XXX M484 767 111 555 222 n u e Q u u n u. n h L m mi K I wk TM dyu y'- a 3 Iy DwRS m m HS 0 48 H 5566 9999 Ur. 1111 e 1951.. m l MD 38 3 074 y ,32 W 0043 am 3636 m0 2 1 n" 2233 PA a. m m m I .m V. m m p m W 0 8 .l C mm 91 Cu %W m A 5 mwmr 1 3 r ue-mm ooAJRBaa 0. de N w n 1 g D. 6 o vmfi AFPA 111]] 253 2247 [[[i 124/11, 124/13 ABSTRACT: A quick dump valve for use in conjunction with [51] Int. Fl6k 31/44 an air operated trap, the valve having a sear for holding it in 251/68, 74; closed position and being closable after air has been released from the reservoir closed by the valve.

[50] Field PATENTEUJANIZIQYI 3554.482

sum 1 or 4 INVENTOR ALBERT DUNKIN RNZY I 1 J miq w PATENT En JAN] 2 1911 v v same [1F4' 'INVENTOR ALBERT DUNKIN ATTORNEY Pmmmmm 3554.482

' saw u or 4 INVENTOR ALBERT DUNKIN ATTORNE PNEUMATIC DUMP VALVE This invention relates to valves and particularly to one useable in conjunction with target throwing traps, such as clay pigeons, for skeet and trapshooting purposes.

In prior devices, a clay or frangible target has usually been projected or thrown by a rotatable, mechanically operated arm operated by a heavy spring. Breakages have occurred because of the heavy forces concerned. It has been suggested that air be used, and such requires a valve means that will close properly after each operation. 7

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a reclosable valve for use in conjunction with an 'air operated target trap.

In one aspect of the invention, a pivoted valve is arranged to close the path of fluid flow from a reservoir and there are spring means urging the valve to closed position but exert a force less than the force of the air when the reservoir is charged. There is a releasable sear means holding the valve closed which when released will permit the valve to be opened by fluid pressure in the reservoir.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a fragmentary top view showing the valve of the invention in conjunction with one form of trap;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of FIG. 1 looking in the direction 2-2 ofFIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a view looking in the direction 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view looking along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 2 but with the parts in an actuated position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the sear and related mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a section looking along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

The invention is described in conjunction with a pneumatic trap for projecting clay targets. One type of such a trap is described in copending application Ser. No. 770,772, filed Oct. 25, 1968. In such a device, barrel 20 is connected to a source of air 21 controlled by valve 22. Clay target 23 (FIGS. 1, 3) is shown in barrel 20 in position to be projected therethrough, the target being placeable therein by any suitable slide or loading means shown schematically at 18. The barrel is curved and has a frictional rib 19 to cause rotation or spin of the target as it passes through the barrel. Upon release of air to the barrel 20 by valve 22, the target is projected through the barrel, the rib 19 giving the desired rotation to the target.

In the present invention, valve 22 is keyed to shaft 24 which has outboard lever 25. The upper end 26 of lever is urged by spring 28 in the direction of arrow 27 which tends to rotate the valve 22 in a counterclockwise and closed direction which will oppose air pressure in reservoir 21. Springs 28 and 28A are chosen so as to exert much less force on the valve 22 than air pressure in reservoir 21 and which will close valve 22 after the air from 21 has been released into the barrel.

Air pressure in reservoir 21 acting on valve 22 will tend to rotate shafl 24 and valve 22 in a'clockwise'direction, which will move lever 29 toward the left (FIG. 2) and cam 30 in a clockwise direction. The line ofaction of lever 29 is below the centerline of cam 30 so that the cam 30 will be rotated when released in a clockwise direction.

Cam 30 is restrained from rotation by a sear means acting on surface 31 of the cam 30, sear 32 being pivotally mounted on pin 33. Sear 32 is urged in a clockwise direction or cocked position by springs 34, 35. Spring 35 is a compression spring, and spring 34 is a tension spring.

A sear releasing member 36 engages the top of sear 32, releasing member 36 being connected to solenoid 37 by pivot pin 38. Releasing member 36 has an ear 39 to which is connected tension spring 40 which tends to rotate release member 36 in a clockwise direction so as to hold it in normal engagement with sear 32.

Describing the operation of the mechanism, solenoid 37 is energized, release member 36 moves to the left (FIG. 2) and withdraws sear 32 from engagement with cam surface 30. Ledge or surface 31 then will move past release element 36, rotating element 36 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2) against force of spring 40 and around pivot point 38. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the lever 29 will rotate cam 30 until sear surface 31 again reaches sear 32 at which time the sear under urgence of springs 34, 35 will stop the cam and the valve 22 will again be closed.

If the solenoid has been deenergized, the tip 41 will again engage the top of sear 32 so as to be in readiness for the next tripping operation. In the event the solenoid has not been released, the release member cannot operate the mechanism until it has been so released.

In order to absorb any shock, sear 32 is mounted on pin 33 through spring 42 in cage position 43 of the sear. Spring 42 bears against washer 44 held in the cage.

It should be apparent that various'details of the invention can be changed without departing from the spirit thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a valve mechanism for controlling flow of fluid from a rechargeable reservoir, the combination including a pivoted valve in the path of fluid flow from said reservoir, spring means urging said valve to closed position, sear means holding said valve in closed position, means for releasing said sear means, so that said valve will be opened by fluid pressure in said reservoir overcoming the force of said spring means.

2. A valve mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the sear means includes a scar arm mounted on a shock absorbing means.

3. A valve mechanism as in claim 1 wherein there is a cam means having a notch engageable by a sear means which is movable relative to said notch, and means connecting said spring means to said cam.

4. A valve mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the sear means is operable by a retracting mechanism, the retracting means including a member which normally contacts the sear means but is not reengageable therewith until the retracting mechanism is released following an actuation thereof.

5. A valve mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the sear means includes a sear arm engageable with'a rotatable cam having a sear surface thereon.

6. A valve mechanism as in claim 5 wherein a lever means connects said valve means to said rotatable cam so that upon release of said sear means, the cam can rotate.

7. A valve mechanism as in claim 6 wherein said lever means includes a first lever mounted on a valve pivot shaft, and a crank arm is pivotally mounted on said first lever, one end of said crank arm being connected to said cam means. 

1. In a valve mechanism for controlling flow of fluid from a rechargeable reservoir, the combination including a pivoted valve in the path of fluid flow from said reservoir, spring means urging said valve to closed position, sear means holding said valve in closed position, means for releasing said sear means, so that said valve will be opened by fluid pressure in said reservoir overcoming the force of said spring means.
 2. A valve mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the sear means includes a sear arm mounted on a shock absorbing means.
 3. A valve mechanism as in claim 1 wherein there is a cam means having a notch engageable by a sear means which is movable relative to said notch, and means connecting said spring means to said cam.
 4. A valve mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the sear means is operable by a retracting mechanism, the retracting means including a member which normally contacts the sear means but is not reengageable therewith until the retracting mechanism is released following an actuation thereof.
 5. A valve mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the sear means includes a sear arm engageable with a rotatable cam having a sear surface thereon.
 6. A valve mechanism as in claim 5 wherein a lever means connects said valve means to said rotatable cam so that upon release of said sear means, the cam can rotate.
 7. A valve mechanism as in claim 6 wherein said lever means includes a first lever mounted on a valve pivot shaft, and a crank arm is pivotally mounted on said first lever, one end of said crank arm being connected to said cam means. 